Stories from Sunday, December 4, 2016

My wife started decorating the house for Christmas shortly after Thanksgiving. First she put up the outside decorations, the lights and the wreaths; and then she moved inside to put up the Nativity scenes. Then she put up the other inside ornaments, such as Christmas houses and Santas and snowmen...

It may seem hard to believe, but the actor, Kirk Douglas, will celebrate his 100th birthday on Dec. 9. His parents were Jewish immigrants from an area that is now called Belarus. Douglas was born in Amsterdam, New York, and attended St. Lawrence University, later obtaining a scholarship to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He played a few minor roles on Broadway, but enlisted in the Navy in 1941 and served until World War II ended in 1945...

My biggest challenge as a parent is not pacifying my daughter for my own ease. Learning to say no is harder than selfishly saying yes for the sake of a whine-free hour here or there. Christmas time is a double-edge sword. Children tend to express all the things they want more frequently...

Lucas Miles seeks God in church, in movies and in books. Lucas produced the movie "Rodeo Girl" with Kevin Sorbo and is producing a new film, "Crowning Jules," which is in the works. A 2017 release date is likely as the producer is hunting for a distributor...

Nov. 12 marked a glorious day in the 13-year history of Blue Monarch. Close to 200 friends and family gathered on a beautiful fall afternoon to celebrate the dedication and open house for the Mildred Jacqueline Peters WINGS Community, consisting of four individual cottages with a playground. Each cottage provides independent housing for one mother and her children as they adjust to increased responsibilities while still benefitting from the supportive environment Blue Monarch provides...

Fruit salad is always a winner, during the holiday potlucks as well as anytime of year. There are so many versions from rich and heavy to light and simple. What makes a fruit salad? Basically, fruit, often combined with something that holds it together, so why not make it your own?...

DeWayne and Bethany Swing of Wartrace announce the birth of twin sons, Charleston Weaver Swing and Conlee DeWayne Swing, on Aug. 3 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital. Charleston was born at 4:20 p.m. Conlee was born at 4:21 p.m...

Chris and Wendy Westbrooks Nelson of Shelbyville announce the birth of a daughter, Katherine Elizabeth Nelson, on Oct. 19 in Murfreesboro. The baby girl weighed 7 pounds, 7 oz. She is the granddaughter of Tim and Beth Davis of Bell Buckle, and Kathy and the late Dean Westbrooks of Murfreesboro. She is the great-granddaughter of J.T. and Peggy Nelson of Shelbyville...

Marco Antonio Munoz and Yeraldin Munoz announce the birth of a son, Marco Antonio Munoz Jr., on Nov. 1 in Tullahoma. The baby boy weighed 7 pounds, 3 oz. He is the grandson of Juan Solis and Marilu Solis, and Marina Utrera and Jose Contreras...

Tony Richard Dudeck and Jasmine Danielle Dudeck of Shelbyville announce the birth of a son, Tony Bryson Dudeck, on Oct. 28 at Harton Regional Medical Center in Tullahoma. The baby boy weighed 6 pounds, 15 oz. He is the grandson of Khristina Howard of Shelbyville, Wayne and April Smelcer of Wartrace, Danny and Jodi Phillips of Shelbyville, and Mark and Valerie Dudeck of Shelbyville. ...

Every year since 1986, the Shelbyville Satellite Group has decorated a Christmas tree at a local bank. This year's tree is at Regions Bank on the corner of Union Street and Main Street. The theme for this year's tree is Tassels and Baubles. A theme is decided late in the year before the tree will be decorated. Group members may use ornaments they already have so long as they fit the theme. Several programs during the year add new designs and techniques for different ornaments...

Excitement was in the air at Southside as the first graders in Shelby Johnson's class waited for their special guests to show up on Tuesday morning. Upon arrival, their special visitors, a group of 18 high school students from the Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro, appeared just as excited to be there as their young friends were for them to come...

MANCHESTER -- Shelbyville Central's Golden Eagles saw a first half lead slip away in a 57-48 District 8-AAA loss Friday night. "It was a tough loss to start district play but I thought the players worked hard as a team and moved the ball well," Eagle coach Ben Holl said. "Jamal Harden really stepped up and led our young guys when they were given an opportunity with others out."...

The Community Viqueens led briefly in the second quarter, but couldn't overcome the outside shooting of Ali Golden and the Huntland Lady Hornets Friday night as the Lady Hornets defeated the Viqueens 59-49 in the District 9-A opener. Several misses from close range and at the foul line were costly for the Viqueens in the loss...

MURFREESBORO -- The Webb School got the chance to flex its offensive muscle on Friday night at Providence Christian. Webb rallied behind the efforts of Keon Johnson, Wes Watson and Hayden Weeks, all of whom reached double figures, and cruised to a 67-21 win...

Seth Gardner gave the Cascade Champions (6-1) the offensive start they needed on Friday night against Grundy County. But it was the entire team's defensive efforts that landed the home team a 55-40 win over the Yellow Jackets (0-5). "We played great in the first half. Had very few turnovers. We shot the ball extremely well. WE found the open man with the extra pass," said Champion coach Mike Edmondson...

MANCHESTER -- Shelbyville Central's Golden Eaglettes blew open a close game in the second half in a 55-45 victory District 8-AAA victory on Friday evening. It was the first district game of the season for Shelbyville Central (2-2, 1-0) and the first district win for first-year head coach Kim Dye...

With the game on the line Friday night against Grundy County, Lady Champion sophomore Haleigh Crouch wanted the ball. Twice, with the game on the line, she put her team ahead late in the fourth quarter--the second of which secured her team's first win of the season when Cascade defeated the Lady Yellow Jackets, 53-49...

At the end of the season, the record that is most important to Coach Robbie Davis and the Community Vikings is the mark inside District 9-A. After losing their first five games of the season outside of the district, the Vikings found the right time to put a 'W' in the win column, coming back in dramatic style to tie the game at the end of regulation before recording an 80-76 overtime victory over the Huntland Hornets Friday night...

Liberty School has begun an anti-bullying campaign. Friday was the kick-off of the #BeTheDifference campaign sponsored by First Community Bank. This is a month long campaign focusing on kindness and helpfulness. The motto is: Get Up. Stand Up. Speak Up...

If you plan on buying a gift for Fido or dress your cat in a costume for Christmas, you're not alone. According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA) National Pet Owners Survey, more than 50 percent of dog owners and 38 percent of cat owners buy their pets gifts for Christmas or Chanukah. That's a potential of 39 million dogs and 32 million cats receiving gifts...

The body of a man was found just inside the front door of his burning house early Friday night and authorities say they suspect he was murdered. "We got the first call on the fire about 7 to 7:30 p.m.," Sheriff Austin Swing said of the blaze on U.S. 231 North at the front of the Joy Vail property. "The first responding deputy was Willie Castleman. He saw bloody sheets piled up at the front door and had trouble opening the door."...